Assickbtob to the harris automatic



C. W. HARROLD."

SHEET FEEDER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14, 1911.

Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

5 t I MW.

Maw/m M C. W. HARROLD.

SHEET FEEDER. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14, 1911.

Patented Aug. 12,1919;

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- C. W. HARROLD.

SHEET FEEDER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14. WW.

Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

CHARLES W. HARROLD, OF WARREN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE HARRIS AUTOMATIC PRESS COMPANY, OF NILES, OHIO, A. CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SHEET-FEEDER.

Patented Aug. 12, 19119.

Original application filed February 21, 1916, Serial No. 79,631. Divided and this application filed February To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES W. HARRoLD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Warren, in the county of Trumbull and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Feeders,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mechanism for successively separating and feeding sheets of paper or similarv material, and relates more particularly to a mechanically operated feeding mechanism wherein a suction device is combined with certain novel adjuncts to produce the requisiteaction to separate and feed forward the individual sheets.

My present application for patent is a division of my pending application, Serial Number 79,631, filed February 21,1916.

The objects of my invention comprise mechanism whereby the individual sheets or blanks may be positively separated and fed from a pile rapidly and with great precision without any break or intermission in the for- Nvard succession of sheets, and without disturbing or dis-arranging the balance of the pile. A. further object is to provide means for supporting the pile on edge along the upper margin of the sheets, which means also serve to loosen and separate the outermost sheet from the pile, to be thereafter detached and drawn from the pile.

My improved construction also presents other features of novelty and usefulness whereby the sheet-feeding mechanism is constructed and operated so as to give satisfactory and reliable results, all of which will be hereinafter set forth and claimed.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one embodiment of my invention, and serve in connection with the description herein, to fully explain the principles of my invention and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying those principles in actual practice.

Figure 1 is a side elevation view of my improved sheet-feeder;

Fig. 2 is a section plan view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section of the upper part of the feeder taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with the Serial No. 148,490. A

parts in position for withdrawing the outer sheet from the pile;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section view of the tubular sucker shaft;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of one of the suckers taken on the line 66 shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a side view of one form of Valve for controlling the vacuum in the suckers;

.Fig. 8 is an end view of the valve shown in Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional diagrammatic view illustrating an alternate construction and mode of operation of the hold-back fingers.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates the end parts or standards of the frame, composed of any suitable material, and formed in any desired shape to accommodate the. structural parts of my sheet-feeder. These standards 10 may be properly connected by cross-bars or other ties to provide a sufficiently strong and rigid structure. A main driving shaft 11 is suitably journaled in the standards 10 and secured thereto is a driving pulley (not shown) for receiving power to drive the feeder. Secured to the shaft 11 is the driving gear 12 enmeshed with the gear 13 secured to the shaft 14, to which is ailixed the lower pull-out rolls 15. The gear 13 engages with the gear 16 mounted on the shaft 16', to which. are afliXed the upper pull-out rolls 17. I prefer to construct the cooperating pull-out rolls 15 and 17 as shown in Fig. 2; these pull-out rolls are three in number and are in the form of disks each mounted on their respective shafts, so as to cooperate with one another, and have suitable spaces there between. The respective upper and lower rolls rotate in unison and at the same speed, through their respective gears 16 and 13. Atfixed to the frame 10, as shown in Fig. 1, is the feedtable 18 having journaled therein the for warding rollers 19 and 20, or any other suitable devices to carry forward the individual sheets to a printing-press or other machine.

This feed-table 18 is so arranged as to lie in roximity to the plane of junction between the upper and lower pull-out rolls 15 and 17, as shown in Fig. 1. This feed-table 18, with forwarding devices adapted to carry the individual sheets forwardly to a printing-press or like machine, is well-known and common in this art, and constitutes, in itself, no part of my present invention.

Mounted on the shaft 14 is the gear 21 which engages with the gear 22 secured to the shaft 28. The size of the gears 21 and 22' is such that the shaft 14 will make substantially three revolutions while the shaft 23 makes a single revolution. Mounted on the end of the shaft 23 is the disk 24, which carries the pin 25, upon which is pivoted the piston rod 26 projecting from the cylinder 27 aflixed to the lower part of the frame 10, as shown in Fig. 1. The cylinder 27 with the piston therein may be of any suitable construction to produce a vacuum of sufficient degree to operate the suckers, which will be hereinafter described.

28 indicates the stack or pile of superimposed sheets of paper or other material which are to be separated one by one and withdrawn and fed forward from my feeder. Preferably the pile of sheets 28 is arranged with their ed es in alinement and resting on edge in a slightly inclined position in a suitable rack or hopper formed in the frame 10, as shown in Fig. 1. It must be understood that my feeder will operate equally as well when the pile 28 is arranged vertically or at an intermediate angle; the inclination shown in Fig. 1 I have found very desirable in separating and feeding the sheets. The lower edges of the pile 28 rest upon the arms 29 (one of which is shown in Fig. 1), ad-

justably secured in the frame 10 upon the bar 30. The lateral edges of the pile 28 are engaged by a. series of PI'OjeCting arms 31, 32, 33 and 34, the lower arms 31 and 32 (Fig. 2) being mounted on the cross-bar 30, while the upper arms 33 and 34 are mounted upon studs adjustably secured in the frame 10 by set-screws 35 and 36 respectively. The lower part of the pile 28 rests upon a serieS of pile supports 37, 38, and 39 all pivotally mounted on the cross-bar 40 (Fig. 2).

.Referringto Fig. 2, 41 and 42 designate two suckers mounted on the transverse tu bular shaft 43. The construction of these suckers is shown more particularly in Figs. 5 and 6, and consists of a short curved hollow arm 44 mounted at right angles to the tubularshaft 43 with its hollow bore 45 engaging with the port 46 in the shaft 43, as shown in Fig. 5: the outer end of the arm 44 carries the flaring conically-shaped lips 47, composed of rubber or other suitable material, to engage the surface of the outermost sheet.

Secured to one end of the tubular shaft 43 is the pipe 48 which leads to the sucker mechanism may be used so as to regulate the proper action of the suckers. The device I have shown is constructedas follows: Mounted on the frame 10 is the cylindrical valve box 49 connected to the shaft 43 by the pipe 48 through the port 50; the pipe 51 connects the box 49 through the port 52, with the vacuum cylinder 27, as shown in Fig. 2. Journaled'upon the box 49 is the oscillating valve 53 having Cut therein a segand controlled by the cam 56 mounted on the shaft 23, the cam 56 engaging with a cam-roller 57 pivoted to the arm 58 secured to the valve 53, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The coil-spring 59 holds the cam-roller 57 always in contact with thecam 56, and Fig. 7 shows that when the roller 57 contacts with the high part of the cam 56, the suckers 41 and 42 are in direct communication with the vacuum cylinder 27, through theshaft 43, pipe 48, port 50, opening 54, port 52 and pipe 51.

The two suckers 41 and 42 are preferably mounted on the shaft 43 slightly beyond the vertical planes of the two outer pull-out rolls, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to engage the outermost sheet of the pile 28 near the upper corners thereof, as shown in Fig. 3.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3, 4 and 9, the upper pull-out rolls 17 are so constructed as to have within their peripheries curved cut-out portions or openings 63, which are adapted to contain, within themselves, the upper edge portion of the outermost sheet 64, after it has beenpulled back and separated from the pile 28 as shown in Fig. 4. The continued rotation of the ull-out rolls 17 bends the upper portion of t e sheet through the peripheral hook-ends 65 of the roll 17, as shown in Fig.4, the hook-ends 65 first engaging the sheet 64, and then bending and carrying the sheet downwardly so that its upper margin is engaged between the hook-ends 65 of the upper puli-out 17 and the periphery of the lower pull-out rolls 15. The suckers 41 and 42 release the sheet 64 as soon as the hook-ends 65 engage the upper portion of the sheet.

The tubular shaft 43 carrying the-suckers 41 and 42 is adapted to rise and fall through a swinging orbit shown in the curved lot 66 v at the end of the arm 67 of the rock-lever 68 pivoted to the frame 10 at 69, the other arm 70 having attached to its end the link I 71 carrying the cam-roller 72 adapted to en' gage the cam 73 mounted on the cam-shaft 23. The outer end of the link 71 is slotted at 74, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, through which slot 74 the shaft 23 passes as the link is reciprocated through its engagement with the revolving cam 73.

To hold the upper margins of the pile 28, while enabling the outer sheet to be detached and withdrawn, I use a series of holdback fingers 75, secured to a rock-shaft 76,

journaled in the bracket 77 mounted on the frame 10. Secured to the rock-shaft 76 is the rock-arm 7 8', to the outer end of which is the link 79 carrying the cam-roller 80 adapted to be engaged by the cam 81 mounted on the cam-shaft 23, The outer end of the link 79 is slotted at 82 through which slot the cam-shaft 23 passes, as the link 79 is raised and lowered, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, to lift and lower the hold-back fingers 75 from the upper edges of-the pile 28. The movement of the fingers 75 is timed through. the cain 81, so that the fingers will be lifted just as the suckers are raised to remove the outermost sheet from the pile 28, and the fingers return to their lowered position to hold the pile, as shown in full lines, as soon as the suckers have lowered sufiiciently to carry the outermost sheet out of the range of the descent of the fingers 75. Fig. 3 shows the fingers 75 about to be lifted since the cam-roller 80 is about to engage the high part of the cam 81 as the latter moves in a contra-clockwise direction on the shaft 23; Fig. 4 shows the sucker 42 lowered and the hold-back fingers engaging the upper margin of the pile 28 which is their normal position except when .lifted as just explained.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 9, I have shown diagrammatically an alternate improved form and mode of operation for separator blades and hold-back fingers, which not only support the pile 28 along the upper margin of the sheets, but also serve to loosen and separate the outermost sheet from the pile. In feeding material from a pile where the individual sheets or blanks are likely to stick together, such as envelop blanks, it becomes desirable to utilize vertically-moving fingers or separator blades which shall operate so as to pull the outermost sheet or blank away from the others, and yet hold the balance of the pile in position. In Fig. 9, 83 represents a series of such hold-back fingers mounted on the rod 84 secured in the outer end of the rocklever 85, fulcrumed at 86 to the frame 10; to the opposite end of the rock-lever 85 is pivoted the link 87 carrying the cam-roller 88 adapted to engage the cam 89 mounted on the shaft 23. The link 87 has its outer end slotted at 90, within which slotthe shaft 23 passes during the reciprocating move- Inents of the link87. The coil-spring 91, connecting the fingers 83 to'the frame 10,

holds the fingers 83 in contact with the transverse plate 92. This plate 92 is secured to the frame 10 and extends across the top of.

the rack or hopper so as to hold in place the upper margins of the pile 28. The width of this plate 92 is such that only the upper margins of the sheets are held, so that the suckers may readily detach the upper edge of the outermost sheet resting against the left side of such plate 92, which also serves movement of the fingers, acting as a thrust,

the outermost sheet, if stuck to the pile, is forcibly. separated and loosened from the remainder of the pile, such movement being timed. to take place after the suckers are lifted to contact with, and withdraw, the outermost sheet or blank to bend same downwardly to be carried into the opening between .the pull-out rolls 15 and 17. Furthermore, the fingers 83 serve to hold the pile 28 in position at all times, except when in their raised position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9. The position of the various parts, shown in full lines in Fig. 9, is that the fingers 83 are about to raise, the sucker is in contact with the pile to draw back the pulled-off sheet to be engaged by the hook-end 65 formed by the cut-out opening 63 in theupper pull-out roll 17, and so carry same into the opening or bite between the series of upper and lower pullout rolls.

The operation of my sheet-feeder is substantially as follows: The stack or pile of sheets or blanks 28 is placed within the rack or hopper formed as hereinbefore described. The respective cams 56, 73 and 81, having t-heshalpes as illustrated in the figures, are mounted and secured to the cam-shaft 23, as to first cause the suckers to be lifted in contact with the outermost sheet of the pile, as shown in Fig. 3. The two suckers 41 and 42 are'preferably arranged on their hollow shaft 43, so as to engage the upper corners of the pile 28, so as to first disengage the extreme corners of the sheet and admit airbetween the outermost sheet and the second sheet, so as to prevent the second sheet from following the first. The suction control valve 53 is opened by the cam 56, thereby connecting the two suckers with the vacuum cylinder 27 the parts constituting the valve mechanism being substantially in the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8. As soon as the suckers 41 and 42 have fastened themselves to the outermost sheet, the fingers 75 are lifted; the suckers 41 and 42arequicidy swung away or withdrawn from the plane of the pile of the sheets, carrying with them this separated sheet 6%, and then the fingers are brought back to their lowered position to hold the 'pile, as shown in full lines in Fig. 4; meanwhile the upper pull-out rolls are rotated contra-clockwise so that the rapper margin of the sheet Get passes within the cut-out openings 63 in the rolls 17. As soon, as the hook-ends 65 of the rolls 17 have engaged the sheet, the cam-roller 57 drops off the high part of the cam 56 and the spring 59 causes the valve 53 to rotate in a clock-wise direction, thereby shutting off the vacuum from the suckers, and simul taneously connecting the latter avith the atmosphere through the vent 55. This causes the suckers 41 and 42 to release their hold on the sheet 64, and the suckers are rapidly loweredout of the path of the bent-over sheet through the cam-roller72 riding down the sharp drop of the cam 73. As the sheet 64 is bent over within the cut-out openings 63 in the upper pull-out rolls 17, theupper margin of the sheet is caught in the bite between the hook-ends 65 and the periphery of the lower pull-out rolls 15. I

In the construction shown in Fig. 9, the cam 89 is so mounted on the shaft 23, as to cause the fingers 83 to be lifted and lowered so that they have a reciprocating movement in the plane of the pile 28, and pass between the outermost sheet 64 and the balance of the \pile to separate same, after the suckers rise to detach the sheet 64. The fingers 83 rise when the suckers contact with the sheet 64, to enable the sheet to be detached and withdrawn from the pile 28. The sheet 64 is then passed forwardly to the feed-table 18 to be advanced to the printing press or other like machine. Inasmuch as the pullout rolls 15 and 17 make three revolutions while the cam-shaft 23 makes a single revolution, it will be obvious that separation and feeding forward of the sheet proceeds while the suckers are rising to perform their initial function in pulling out the upper portion of the next sheet in the second cycle of movement. The peripheral length of the pulL-out rolls, with their triple revolutions for each cycle of operation, is amply sufficient to deliver the sheet from the pile and advance same to the feeding-off rollers or other devices on the feed-table proper.

My improved sheet-feeder, therefore, combines first the united action of the fingers and suckers in preliminarily separating'and subsequently allowing the drawingdown the upper edge or margin of the outermost sheet by the suckers within the path of the cutout openings in the upper pull-out rolls; the fingers holding the balance of thepile as soon as the suckers are lowered. Then the sucker action is terminated, and the upper portion of the sheet is further bent down by the upper pull-out roll into the opening between the two sets of pull-out rolls. formed by the cut-out openings and the peripheries of the lower rolls, and thereafter the sheet is grasped slightly back of its front edge when withdrawal from the pile proper begins, the successive sheets being positively loosened, detached and fed forward from, the pile as required.

IVhen the separator blades shown in Fig. 9 are used, the suckers should first separate the edge of the outermost sheet sufficiently to permit these blades to readily enter the opening thus formed, after which they follow up the peeling action of the suckers, and in case the outer sheet should adhere to the pile, such blades would strip the sheet from the pile, meanwhile acting as a support for the upper portion of the pile to maintain same in position.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets on edge including a transverse guard plate to support the upper margin of the pile, of a series of reciprocating separator blades engaging the upper portion of the outermost sheet of the pile below said guard plate, means for detaching the front edge of the outermost sheet from the pile and from said guard plate, means for lifting said blades away from the pile when said detaching means engages the outermost sheet, and means for lowering said blades beyond said plate to loosen said outermost sheet, from the pile and to directly support the balance of the pile after the detaching means has with drawn the upper edge of the outermost sheet from said guard plate.

2. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets on edge including a transverse guard plate to supportthe upper margin of the pile, of a series of reciprocating separator blades engaging the upper portion of the outermost sheet of the pile below said guard plate, means for detaching the front edge of the outermost sheet from the pile and from said guard plate, means for lifting said blades away from the pile and on said guard plate when said detaching means engages the ,outermost sheet, and means for lowering said blades beyond said plate to loosen said outermost sheet from the pile and to directly support the balance of the pile after the detaching means has withdrawn the upper edge of the outermost sheet from said guard plate.

3. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets on edge includ ing a transverse guard plate to support the upper margin of the pile, of a series of reciprocating separator blades yieldingly engaging the upper portion of the outermost sheet of the pile below said guard plate, means for detaching the front edge of the outermost sheet from the pile and from said guard plate, means for lifting said blades away from the pile when said detaching means engagesthe outermost sheet, and means for lowering said blades beyond said plate to loosen said outermost sheet from the pile and to directly support the balance of the pile after the detaching means has withdrawn theupper edge of the outermost sheet from said guard plate.

4. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets on edge including a transverse guard plate to support the upper margin of the pile, of a series of reciprocating separator blades yieldingly engaging the upper portion of the outermost sheet of the pile below said guard plate, means for detaching the front edge of the outermost sheet from the ile and from said guard plate, means for llfting said blades away from the pile and on said guard plate when said detaching means engages the outermost sheet, and means for lowering said blades beyond said plate to loosen said outermost sheet from the pile and to directly support the balance of the pile after the detaching means has withdrawn the upper edge of the outermost sheet from said guard late. p 5. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets on edge including a transverse. guard plate to support the upper margin of the pile, of a series of reciprocating separator blades engaging the upper portion of the outermost sheet of the pile below said guard plate, means for detaching the front edge of the outermost sheet from the pile and from said guard plate, means for lifting said blades away from the pile when said detaching means engages the outermost sheet, and means for thrusting said blades downwardly in the plane of the pile beyond said plate to loosen said outermost sheet from the pile and to directly support the balance of the pile after the detaching means has. withdrawn the upper edge of the the outermost sheet from said guard plate.

6. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets on edge including a transverse guard plate to support the upper margin of the pile, of a series of reciprocating separator blades engaging the upper portion of the outermost sheet of the pile below said guard plate, means for de-' taching the' front ed e of the outermost sheet from the pile and from said guard plate, means for lifting said blades away from the pile and on said guard plate when said detaching means engages the outermost sheet, and means for thrusting said blades downwardly in the plane of the pile beyond said plate to loosen said outermost shee from the pile and to directly support the balance of the pile after the detaching means has withdrawn the upper edge of the outer- -most sheet from said guard plate.

7. In asheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets on edge including a transverse guard plate to support the upper margin of the pile, of a series of reciprocating separator blades yieldingly engaging the upper portion of the outermost sheet of the pile below said guard plate, means for detaching the front edge of the outermost sheet from the pile and from said guard plate, means for lifting said blades away from the pile when said detaching means engages the outermost sheet, and means for thrusting said blades downwardly in the plane of the pile beyond said' plate to-loosen said outermost sheet from the pile and to directly support the balance of the pile after the detaching means has Withdrawn the upper edge of the outermost sheet from said guard plate.

8. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets on edge including a transverse guard plate to support the upper margin of the pile, of a series of reciprocating separator blades yieldingly engaging the upper portion of the outermost sheet of the pile below said guard plate, means for detaching the front edge of the outermost sheet from the pile and from said guard plate, means for lifting said blades away from the pile and on said guard plate when said detaching means engages the outermost sheet, and means for thrusting said blades downwardly in the plane of the pile beyond said plate to loosen said outermost sheet from the pile and to directly support the balance of the pile after the detaching means has withdrawn the upper edge of the outermost sheet from said guard plate.

9. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets on edge including a transverse guard plate to support the upper margin of the pile, of a series of reciprocating separator blades engaging the upper portion of the outermost sheet of the pile below said guard plate, means for detaching the front edge of the outermost sheet from the pile and from said guard plate, means for lifting said blades away from the pile when said detaching means engages the outermost sheet, and means for lowering said blades beyond said plate to loosen saidoutermost sheet from the pile and to directly and yieldingly support the balance of the pile'after the detaching means has withdrawn the upper edge of the outermost sheet from said guard plate.

10.111 a sheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets on edge including a transverse guard plate to support the upper margin of the ile, of a series of reciprocating separator lades engaging the upper portion of the outermost sheet of the pile below said guard plate, means for detaching the front edge of the outermost sheet from the pile and from said guard plate, means for lifting said blades away from the pile and on said guard plate when said detaching means engages the outermost sheet, and means for lowering said blades beyond said plate to loosen said outermost sheet from the pile and to directly and yieldingly support the balance of the pile after the detaching means has withdrawn the upper edge of the outermost sheet from said guard plate,

11.111 a sheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets on edge including a transverse guard plate to support the upper margin of the pile, of a series of reciprocating separator blades engaging the upper portion of the outermost sheet of the pile below said guard plate, means for detaching the front edge of the outermost sheet from the pile and from said guard plate, means for lifting said blades away from the pile when said detaching means engages the outermost sheet, and means for thrusting said blades downwardly in the plane of the pile beyond said plate to loosen said outermost sheet from the pile and to directly and yieldingly support the balance of the pile after the detaching means has withdrawn the upper edge of the outermost sheet from said guard plate.

12. In a sheetfeeder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets on edge including a transverse guard plate to support the upper margin of the pile, of a series of reciprocating separator blades engaging the upper portion of the outermost sheet of the pile below said guard plate, means for detaching the front edge of the outermost sheet from the pile and from said guard plate, means for lifting said blades away from the pile and on said guard plate when. said detaching means engages the outermost sheet, and means for thrusting said blades downwardly in the plane of the pile beyond said plate to loosen said outermost sheet from the pile and to directly and yieldingly support the balance of the pile after the detaching means has withdrawn the upper edge of the outermost sheet from said guard plate.

CHARLES W. HARROLD, 

